Intelligence points strongly toward the crash being caused by a missile strike from Iranian forces, perhaps inadvertent, certainly connected to the latest back-and-forth between Iran and the United States.
Actions have consequences.
I do not know any of the deceased, nor their families, but it has still been a bleak day here. It feels like such a waste of life and talent and youth and wisdom and hope.
A few days ago I was reminded of the tune Skylark, as sung by Bette Midler, a piece I associate with my university days when homesickness and a lonely heart led me to play it often. It's a beautiful tune with beautiful words but very melancholy, and it has, I believe fittingly, been on continuous play in my head all day today.
* Updated 1/11/2020 to reflect more recent information in the news
Skylark, have you anything to say to me?
Can you tell me where my love may be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where he's just waiting to be kissed?
Can you tell me where my love may be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where he's just waiting to be kissed?
Skylark, have you seen a valley green with spring
Where my heart can go a journeying
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane?
Where my heart can go a journeying
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane?
And in your lonely flight have you heard the music?
In the night, wonderful music.
Faint as a will-o'-the-wisp, crazy as a loon,
Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon.
In the night, wonderful music.
Faint as a will-o'-the-wisp, crazy as a loon,
Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon.
Oh, skylark, i don't know, i don't know
If you can find these things,
But my heart, my heart is riding on your wings.
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
If you can find these things,
But my heart, my heart is riding on your wings.
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh, won't you lead me there?
Lead me there, lead me there.
Lead me there, skylark, skylark, skylark, there!
Lead me there, lead me there.
Lead me there, skylark, skylark, skylark, there!
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
Skylark lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Will there ever be peace in the world, I wonder? What will it take?
I am so very sorry. And long for world wide peace.
ReplyDeleteAs do so many of us, dear EC.
DeleteWe heard about the plane crash on our TV news last night. That missile may have been inadvertent, but if they weren't firing off missiles that plane would have been safe :(
ReplyDeleteAnd that was only the latest volley in the back-and-forth. The problems go back a long way.
Deletemy hear has got unbearable weight dear Jenny
ReplyDeleteno matter what is the cause innocent civilians don't deserve such death nor officials of Iran were meant to die such way
as a really weak student of life specially politics i can understand that there is certain group of people who is running this whole scenario according to their own ideas and benefits ,how to shape economy of the world and how to play political games is decided on one single table
when to put where on seat of presidency or any other authority is no longer concern of national matter
everything seems to planned
lobby that placed Trump against the will of most of people wants to achieve some targets ,if we keep an eye on world matters and specially if we try to have heart to listen what all sides say from beginning we can understand things more insight-fully
such loss of precious lives is unforgettable and unforgivable and i wish we can even reveal the actual responsible !
My heart is heavy, too, baili. There is so much history behind every action, it is hard to untangle it all, but it is clear that innocent people are the ones who most often suffer.
DeleteThis sort of transcends the "I told you so" that has been chasing itself around in the heads of us sane Americans and spills over into "what is the most effective thing I can do to help remove the president who caused all this" territory.
ReplyDeleteThere is lots of peace in the world. The sort of quiet surrounding the trees on this snowy hillside is nothing if not peaceful.
Will there ever be nothing but peace in the world?
Probably not. There will probably always be chaos and strife somewhere, which I try to selfishly use as motivation to appreciate the peace while I can.
-Doug in Sugar Pine
Wise thoughts, Doug. Thank you; it helps.
DeleteSadly all the time man rules the earth I cannot see peace any time soon. 'There's enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed' comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
As much as I crave peace, I know it will never be. There will always be those who want power and wealth, and that leads to conflict. That's a good quote.
DeleteI am usually quite optimistic and even in the face of horrible events I can see them as isolated tragedies but right now I feel that the future is bleak for all of us and the people in power don't care a whit
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you, Canadians, Canada, the world, has lost all of that hope and talent. It's criminal
I know what you mean, kylie. I am usually optimistic as well, but sorrows have been piling up lately, not least over the fires in your beautiful country, and this incident was just the drop that made the cup overflow.
DeleteWe are mad. We are angry. We feel so helpless. We are sorry. We grieve at the senseless of it all. There are no answers.
ReplyDeleteMusic can often express how we feel. Give us words and questions to speak and ask. Music can provide some comfort for a moment. But the pain remains.
All so true, my friend.
DeleteThis was so horrible and it should have never happened. Responsibility for this heinous act may never be admitted, however, because of the actions of one man, this would have never happened. I am so sorry for all the precious lives lost, especially those from our wonderful neighbors to the north.
ReplyDeleteSo many innocent lives are lost every day. It is heartbreaking. And theoretically preventable, although the nature of man makes me wonder if we will ever reach that point.
DeleteIt's heart breaking news isn't it. So many families will be grieving and my heart aches for each and every one of them. Such a pointlessly cruel thing to do.
ReplyDeleteJust the latest in pointless acts that cause the innocent to suffer, isn't it?
DeleteAh Jenny, my choir sang this very song last spring. A nostalgic piece, but fitting for our world in this moment. Such senseless loss of life.
ReplyDeleteSenseless, yes.
DeleteI would love to have heard this piece sung by your choir.
What a sad event. With all the confusion it's sadder yet.
ReplyDeleteYes, there will be nothing approaching closure for the families for a long time, if ever.
DeleteIt is hard not to feel down. I counted my blessings this morning in an attempt to improve my mood. It was a small list but very precious.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Susan. Finding things to be grateful for is always a good thing, but especially when one's heart gets very heavy.
DeleteInnocent people will always be the victims! This travesty makes me so sad!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Marie.
DeleteOh Jenny, this all breaks my heart. I read your post last night and wanted to respond immediately. But then I realized, what could I possibly say? Everything you say here is so true and so is the article you linked.
ReplyDeleteWhen Trump was elected like many Americans I was in shock. I didn't think it would happen. Shows how little I know. What I do know is that our world is in sad shape these days. I want to make it better but how? I try and do those things I can do and I always vote even when our choices are not the best. I see a U.S. I never thought I would see and it makes me sad.
I am sorry for what your country has lost. I am sorry for the losses around the world. I am afraid, discouraged and sad. But I will not give up because I have to believe it can, someday, improve. I just don't know how.
There are so many losses around the world, especially, it seems, right now. It rubs a person raw after awhile. I will find my optimism again. Like you, I have to believe things will improve.
DeleteMy sympathies and condolences to all those suffering from this terrible act.
ReplyDeleteA quote from Alexander Pope, "Man is the sole mistake of nature". How very true!
It's not the first - and won't be the last - bad thing to happen, but it seemed to be the last straw to my usually optimistic heart, Joan. I agree with that quote.
DeleteEven if there will never be peace, we can't stop fighting for it.
ReplyDeleteA very good point, Mimi.
Delete"included professionals, graduate students, students, and children." I can't really put it into palatable words, but the loss of such is a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThere were many stories in our news about the victims - so many talented people that would have contributed much to the world, and then others who we did not hear as much about, but precious to those in their orbit. None of those lives should have been lost.
DeleteI am so upset that a lunatic runs our country and makes decisions that affect the entire world. I'm sick of it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
He is only one of many who are arrogant and thoughtless. But a very orange one. Strangely orange.
DeleteWe know he's not the choice of the majority, and we feel for you. Hang in there. He'll be gone eventually.
It's such a tragedy and I fear there are going to be many more tragedies because of the idiots in charge.
ReplyDeleteIt's horrifying the last while, isn't it?
DeleteHi Jenny, I agree with Doug-we have to find our peace where we can find it. I hope you find a little in that beautiful song. I agree with Crafty Cat Corner and the person who quoted that Man is Nature's only mistake. I'm not sure there will ever be peace, nor will the planet work optimally, while the race exists. Too often the people least fit for leadership are the most adept at gaining power. This president will never be apologetic, will never admit his culpability, but I think many Americans do feel that he is unfit, immoral and ultimately bears responsibility. I do. Senseless and sad. It should not have happened. I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteThe system seems broken somehow. Or maybe the system only survived as long as most of the players were mature adults who agreed on basic ideas of morality and decency and fairness. Now anything goes. And it's not just in the U.S. Ugh. We're having our own issues in Canada too.
DeleteI remember four years ago, we marched on Washington and all over the world, to tell that deranged old man not to mess with us. But he has, since the first day. I hope we remember, come November.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Joanne. This is going to be a long year, isn't it?
DeleteTerrible news. Now the UK has it's own British Trump I'm even more scared about what the future holds for this world we all live in. I love Bette Midler.
ReplyDeleteThe crazy is spreading and it's scary.
DeleteYep, Bette Midler has such a marvellous voice. The Bette Midler album was the one I had at university. I played the heck out of it.
All of this from a spiteful, immature, developmentally arrested, broken human. I try to keep my sanity with momentary distractions. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I do enjoy your blog. I love the title!
ReplyDeleteI dip in and out of the news and when it gets too overwhelming I go for the distractions, too.
DeleteThank you for your kind remarks!
This crash weighs heavily on my heart. So many families are heartbroken and grieving. What a sad time.
ReplyDeleteI know it is the same when there are tragedies in other places but when it's closer to home, there are more details in local media and it feels more immediate, more personal I guess.
DeleteI'm glad Iran has finally admitted to downing the plane, for what that's worth -- but yeah, the whole thing is horrible. Actions DO have consequences.
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw that in the news today. That's something, at least. It may help the families in some small way.
DeleteI read "Donald Trump gets impeached—63 Canadians die". In my opinion there is no doubt that Trump created the circumstances whereby the Ukrainian aeroplane was brought down. He is also implicated in the deaths of dozens of distraught mourners in Kerman, Iran at the funeral of Qassem Suleimani. How many more have to die?
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I was focused on the Canadian connection, but there were citizens of other countries that suffered and died as well.
DeleteIt's heartbreaking if it was an accident; and horrifying if it wasn't. Either way, a terrible event. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed.
Delete